Sunday, February 11, 2007

Hating Brazil

The editor of the eXile on why we should replace our renewed hatred for Russia with a hatred for Brazil. He makes a good case for how utterly dire that state is but he fails to account for one big difference between Brazil and Russia: the Brazilians aren't important. They don't have the raw power of the Chinese or the crucial resources of the Russians. It's the same reason why no one cares that much, in strategic terms, about India. Brazil has neither the will, skill or wealth to threaten the west and the hatred cannot exist without the threat. As such, Ames' article becomes more effective as a call for pity than for anger.